Safety lock device for a stove

ABSTRACT

A safety lock device for a stove prevents the axial rotation of the control knobs. The safety lock device comprises an eye blot member affixed to an end of the front face of the stove. A U shaped member communicates with the eye blot member, wherein the legs of the U shaped member extend across the front face of the stove as the legs engage the control knobs preventing axial rotation of the knobs. A transparent rectangular shaped housing communicates with the legs of the U-shaped member and covers the control knobs.

United States Patent 1 Moy [ July 22, 1975 SAFETY LOCK DEVICE FOR A STOVE [75] Inventor: I

[73] Assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates, Inc., New York, N.Y. a part interest 22 Filed: Oct. 23, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 517,372

Henry Moy, Bronx, N.Y.

70/179, 180, 183, 211, 212, DIG. 58; 126/42 1,708,210 4/1929 Andrews 70/177 1,729,425 9/1929 He1tich..... 126/42 2,777,316 1/l957 Mello 70/177 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard E. Nanfeldt [57] ABSTRACT A safety lock device for a stove prevents the axial rotation of the control knobs. The safety lock device comprises an eye blot member affixed to an end of the front face of the stove. A U shaped member communicates with the eye blot member, wherein the legs of the U shaped member extend across the front face of [56] References Cited the stove as the legs engage the control knobs prevent- UNITED STATES PATENTS mg axial rotation of the knobs. A transparent rectangular shaped housing communicates with the legs of 976475 11/1910 Lwmgsto" 70/178 X the U-shaped member and covers the control knobs. 1,244,790 10/1917 Stevenson 126/42 1,588,890 6/1926 Horvath 70/178 X 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 4 I i s PATENTEDJUL22 I975 3.895.507

I4 I I Kg f SAFETY LOCK DEVICE FOR A STOVE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My present invention relatesto a unique and novel improvement in a safety lock device for preventing the axial rotation of the control knobs of an electrical or gas stove.

The accidental turning on of the control knobs of a stove can either cause a waste of electrical energy or allowing gas to escape. The accidental turning of the knob can be caused by the brushing of a person against the control knob or the wandering fingers of a young child. It is known from US. Pat. Nos: l,588,890; 1,632,111 and 2,667,864 that safety locks have been used for individual discrete control knobs of a stove but these aforementioned patents are based on cover units incapable of functioning as a master safety lock for a plurality of stove control knobs arranged in a row.

Accordingly, it is an object of my present invention to provide a safety lock device for a plurality of aligned control knobs of a stove, wherein the accidental axial rotation of the control knobs is prevented.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a safety lock device of simple design and relative low manufacturing cost, wherein the safety device is adaptable to all ready existing stoves.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a safety device easily placed into a position functioning as a safety lock as well as being easily removable.

Briefly, my present invention comprises an eye blot member affixed to an end of the front face of the stove. A U-shaped member communicates with the eye blot member, wherein the elongated legs of the U-shaped member extend across the front face of the stove as the legs engage an aligned row of control knobs preventing the axial rotation of the knobs. A means is provided for pulling the legs inward towards each other and locking them in position. A transparent rectangular shaped housing communicates with the legs of the U shaped member and covers the control knobs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front cross sectional view of the safety lock device in use;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the safety lock device in use;

FIG. 3 illustrates an end perspective view of the safety lock device; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an end sectional view of the safety lock device engaging a control knob of the stove.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-2 show a safety lock device engaging a horizontal row of control knobs 11 for an electrical or gas stove (not shown), wherein the device 10 prevents accidental turning of the knobs 11 by children or the accidental brushing against the knob 11. Each knob 11 projects horizontally outward from a front face 12 of the stove.

Referring to FIG. 4, an operating stem 13 projects outward through a first aperture 14 in the front face. Each knob 11 is fixably secured to the operating stem 13, wherein the knob 11 and stem 13 are axially rotated enabling the burners (not shown) of the stove to be turned off and on. The principle of the present invention is to restrict the 90 rotation of the knobs 11.

Referring to FIG. 3, each knob 11 comprises a disc shaped bottom base 15 having a centrally positioned flange member 16 extending upwardly from the top face 17 of the base 15. The outer free end 18 of member 16 is enlarged into a second smaller disc member 19. A centrally placed bore 20 extends inward from the back face 21 of the layer disc base 15, wherein the operating stem 13 is fixably secured in the bore 20.

Referring back to FIGS. 1-2, an eye blot member 22 is permanently affixed to one end of the front face 12 of the stove, wherein member 12 is horizontally placed. A U shaped member 23 having elongated legs 24, 25 is secured through the eye blot member 22, wherein the upper 24 and lower 25 legs extend horizontally across the front face 12 of the stove. The flange member 16 of each knob 11 extends outward through the opening 26 existing between the legs 24, 25. The outer ends 27, 28 of each leg 24, 25 are bent inward towards each other, wherein a transverse slot aperture 29, 30 is contained in each outer end 27, 28. A means is provided to pull the elongated legs 24, 25 towards each other, whereby the legs 24, 25 engage the flange member 16 of the knob 11 preventing the knob 11 from being axially rotated. The means provided to pull the legs 24, 25 inward towards each other comprises a flat bar member 31 having an end stop 32 inserted through aperture 29, 30 of the outer ends 27, 28 of the legs 24, 25. The flat bar member 31 has a plurality of longitudinally aligned holes 33 enamating inward from a free end 34 of the bar member 31. The stop member engages the outer end 27 of the upper leg 24, while the bar member extends outward from the outer end 27 of the lower leg 25. A padlock 35 is inserted through one of the holes 33 of bar member 31 contained outside the lower leg 25, wherein the pulled in outer ends 27, 28 and legs 24, 25 are locked in position.

FIGS. 1, 4 show a transparent rectangular shaped housing 36 having an open back sidewall (not shown) as well as vertically aligned slot holes 37, 38 in each end wall 39, 40 of the housing 36. The housing 36 fits over the knobs 11 and engages the front face 12 of the stove. The legs 24, 25 of the U shaped member 23 insert through holes 37, 38, wherein the outer ends 27, 28 protrude outward pass the end wall 39 of the housing 36. The length of the rectangular housing 36 as well as the length of the legs 24, 25 of members 23 varying according to the total length of the knob control panel of the stove.

Hence, obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, such modifications being within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as an illustrative and not as limiting in scope.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A safety lock device in combination with a plurality of aligned control knobs on a front face of a stove for the prevention of the accidental rotation of said control knobs of said stove, which comprises:

each control knob fixably secured to a valve operating stem of said stove; said control knob formed from a disc shaped bottom base and an upward extending rectangular shaped flange member affixed centrally to said bottom base; an eye blot member horizontally extending outward from said front face of said stove; a U-shaped member having elongated leg members; said U-shaped member communicating with said eye blot member, wherein said legs extend across said stove; each said flange member of each said knob extending outward between said legs; and a first means of pulling said legs inward toward each other, wherein said pulled in legs engage said flange members of said knobs preventing axially rotation of said knobs. 2. A safety lock device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first means comprises:

each outer end of each said elongated leg having a transverse slot aperture;

a flat bar member having an end stop as well as a plurality of longitudinally aligned holes enamating inward from a free end of said bar member;

said bar member inserted through said transverse slot apertures;

said outer ends of said legs mechanically pulled inward towards each other; and

a padlock inserted through one said hole of said bar member for maintaining said outer ends of said legs and said legs in a contracted state.

3. A safety lock device as recited in claim 2, wherein said outer ends of said legs being bent inward towards each other.

4. A safety lock device as recited in claim 2, which further comprises a rectangular shaped transparent housing communicating with said legs of said U shaped members as well as covering said knobs of said stove.

5. A safety lock device as recited in claim 3, which further comprises a rectangular shaped transparent housing communicating with said legs of said U-shaped members as well as covering said knobs of said stove. 

1. A safety lock device in combination with a plurality of aligned control knobs on a front face of a stove for the prevention of the accidental rotation of said control knobs of said stove, which comprises: each control knob fixably secured to a valve operating stem of said stove; said control knob formed from a disc shaped bottom base and an upward extending rectangular shaped flange member affixed ceNtrally to said bottom base; an eye blot member horizontally extending outward from said front face of said stove; a U-shaped member having elongated leg members; said U-shaped member communicating with said eye blot member, wherein said legs extend across said stove; each said flange member of each said knob extending outward between said legs; and a first means of pulling said legs inward toward each other, wherein said pulled in legs engage said flange members of said knobs preventing axially rotation of said knobs.
 2. A safety lock device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first means comprises: each outer end of each said elongated leg having a transverse slot aperture; a flat bar member having an end stop as well as a plurality of longitudinally aligned holes enamating inward from a free end of said bar member; said bar member inserted through said transverse slot apertures; said outer ends of said legs mechanically pulled inward towards each other; and a padlock inserted through one said hole of said bar member for maintaining said outer ends of said legs and said legs in a contracted state.
 3. A safety lock device as recited in claim 2, wherein said outer ends of said legs being bent inward towards each other.
 4. A safety lock device as recited in claim 2, which further comprises a rectangular shaped transparent housing communicating with said legs of said U shaped members as well as covering said knobs of said stove.
 5. A safety lock device as recited in claim 3, which further comprises a rectangular shaped transparent housing communicating with said legs of said U-shaped members as well as covering said knobs of said stove. 